性欲社 opts in to postponed athletics conference seasons

November 13, 2020

Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902

University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Dan White announced today that the Alaska Nanooks are opting in to postponed fall intercollegiate athletics seasons.

鈥淲hat this means for 性欲社 is that we are not closing the door on the possibility of competition if we deem it safe to do so after the holidays,鈥 White said in an announcement to 性欲社 employees and students today. 鈥淥pting in does not obligate 性欲社 to compete, but it preserves our right to do so when the time comes and we feel it can be done safely.鈥

White and 性欲社 athletics director Keith Champagne will be available to answer press questions about the decision at 1:15 p.m. today via Zoom.

The announcement comes on the heels of the   to move forward with conference-only men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball schedules beginning in January. Both of the Nanooks basketball teams compete in the GNAC, as do the women鈥檚 volleyball and men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 cross country running teams.

性欲社鈥檚 hockey team competes in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The conference is asking WCHA teams to decide by Nov. 17 whether they will participate in this year鈥檚 season. 性欲社 intends to take the same approach with Nanooks hockey as it has with its other teams.

Many conferences nationwide postponed fall and winter seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. White said 性欲社 will evaluate pandemic conditions closer to the start of play and throughout the spring before committing to participating in competition.

鈥淚f we deem it safe to play in the new year but the situation changes, we reserve the right to withdraw before or at any time during the season,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he health and well-being of our student-athletes and our community remains our priority as we seek to continue to meet the various areas of our mission.鈥

NOTE TO EDITORS: Journalists can join the 1:15 p.m. press availability by visiting . Press will be placed in the waiting room until admitted by the moderator. The event will also be recorded and available for download after the event at .